Tech Shout!

Peripherals maker Logitech has launched the Harmony 1000 remote in India. Its spectacular brushed-chrome and piano-black finish makes the Harmony 1000 remote an aesthetic complement to today’s most stylish living rooms.

The new device comes with a vibrant, color-sensitive screen. It is the Harmony 1000 remote’s touch-sensitive screen that makes the well-known Harmony activity control even simpler by displaying the significant controls when they are immediately relevant. It controls any device with an infrared receiver - including VCRs, digital video recorders, high-definition televisions, and many household appliances. With the help of the radio frequency (RF) technology, the Harmony 1000 remote can also control multi-room Entertainment systems and high-end components hidden behind closed doors, when used along with the optional Logitech Harmony Wireless Extender (sold separately).

Moninder Jain, Director, India and South East Asia, Logitech said, “The Logitech Harmony 1000 remote delivers affordable luxury - it simplifies control of today’s complicated home-entertainment systems at a fraction of the price of traditional custom-installed remotes, and it’s luxurious in its sophisticated design, which adds an element of prestige to any living room.” Jain added, “The Harmony 1000 remote is the interface that people crave for their home-entertainment system - it’s sleek, it’s easy to use with its one-touch activity based control, and it comes without a prohibitive price.”

The Logitech Harmony 1000 incorporates a 3.5-inch color screen which displays icons connected with various entertainment activities, including Watch TV, Watch a Movie, Listen to Music, or Play Games. Just one touch of any of these icons will put the full home-entertainment system in the proper state for enjoyment of the activity.

After the user selects an activity, the remote’s screen displays the controls needed particularly for the activity - unlike the many universal remotes with dozens of infrequently used fixed buttons that are often more confusing than useful. For instance, whilst watching TV using a digital video recorder (DVR), people will see on screen the standard skip forward, skip back, record and pause buttons required to control a DVR. However whilst listening to CDs, they will see the track controls they need to navigate their music. The Harmony 1000 remote has only nine fixed buttons, including volume up and down, channel up and down, and a directional navigation pad - basic controls used for most activities, which are located on the right-hand side of the remote. The remote comes with integrated rechargeable batteries, a convenient and chic charging stand, that does away with the requirement of replacing batteries and offers a base so that everyone knows where to find the remote. A full charge offers approximately gives around one week of power, depending on the usage of course.

The remote applies the patented Smart State Technology through which it can track the operations of the various components it controls. With the technology, Harmony remote users can easily toggle between watching home theater and listening to music by selecting a single activity button.

Further on, Logitech has redesigned its online interface to make the Harmony Internet setup extremely simple. The innovative setup wizard leads them through the process, wherein people start the setup by keying in their components’ model numbers. That input is automatically matched to the characteristics, discrete codes and infrared commands of above 175,000 devices from over 5,000 manufacturers contained in Logitech’s online database.

Through the wizard people can describe the various entertainment activities and identify the entertainment components used for each activity.

The Logitech Harmony 1000 Remote Control is priced at Rs. 27, 995 and is available from national distributors Rashi Peripherals across India. It comes bundled with a 1-year warranty.